MVAR May 2020 Newsletter

May eNewsletter

A publication by the Mid-Valley Association of REALTORS® Issue XVII 2020

A Message from the President

Hello REALTOR® Family,

I hope this message finds you safe and healthy!

Can you believe it is May? Summer is right around the corner, and personally I am excited for the new season and hope that we will begin getting back to some normalcy.

Its been a busy month at MVAR. I am happy to report that The Board of Directors Meeting and Committee Meetings were held successfully using Zoom and that we are committed to continue working on new ways to bring CE opportunities and events to our members as we deal with COVID-19.

We had a Live Webinar on April 22 ^nd . Our panel was made up of several candidates running for Salem City Council and Salem Mayor, hosted by Holly Sears and Patrick Sieng. Thank you for all who were able to attend.

We are preparing for our May General Membership Meeting. We’re hoping to be able to meet in person, but are preparing to use technology available to meet virtually if needed. MVAR staff will be sending out more details soon.

While many of you are still out listing and showing homes, taking the necessary precautions recommended by the CDC to stay safe, others may be working from home while caring for family members and/or assisting children with distance learning.

Most of us are currently experiencing some sort of loss while navigating this temporary way of life. If there are needs you cannot meet or know someone in need, please reach out to MVAR staff or myself so together we can make sure needs are met.

Take care and stay safe and healthy and I look forward to seeing all of you in person soon!

Sincerely,

Judy Gysin

IN THIS ISSUE...

TOP STORY: Your Voice, Your Vote - Primary Election

Messages from our Business Partners

Educational Opportunities

Community Foundation

Government Affairs

MVAR News

Message from the Executive Officer

New REALTOR® & Affiliate Members

OAR® & NAR® Resources

NAR ® Commercial Real Estate Resources

Thank You to our Sponsors

May 19 Primary Election

Just Around the Corner!

The May 19 Primary Election is fast approaching and many, if not all of you, have already received your ballot in the mail. It is hard to emphasize enough how important every single vote is in this election. We are grateful to support five outstanding candidates running for Salem City Council: Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett, Jan Kailuweit (Ward 1), Councilor Brad Nanke (Ward 3), fellow Real Estate Broker José Gonzalez (Ward 5), and Reid Sund (Ward 7). These candidates share MVAR’s vision for Salem, including building a third bridge, removing barriers to much-needed housing, and fiscal responsibility. The MVAR Government Affairs Committee would like to thank its members for your investment in the REALTOR® PAC, which enables us to engage in these races and support the campaigns of these candidates. However, the most critical thing for your to do now is cast your vote . Local races can be won and lost on just a handful of votes so every vote counts ! Talk to your families, friends , and work colleagues and encourage them to vote, as well. The future of this City depends on it.

Salem Mayor

City Council Ward 1

City Council Ward 3

City Council Ward 5

Vote May 19th

City Council Ward 7

Reid Sund

What Ward Do You Live In?

Click Here to Find out!

A message from Elizabeth Smith

Branch Manager Caliber Home Loans

Pushed by Pain or Pulled by Vision?

“I am not a Broker, I am a Mortgage Banker. I can broker. I just don’t.”

“I am a Broker, we are better.”

“We are a Correspondent Lender, we do our own loans, we just don’t service them.”

“I work in a Bank, we don’t do Government loans, but we can do bare land loans.”

Are you confused yet? I would be too .

Loan Officers receive training to market REALTORS® with the same basic message. “I am better than your current person,” or “I have this product, and our rates are the lowest,” or my favorite, “I will pay for your Zillow.” The concept is to “target your pain.” What do you feel, if changed, could really make a big difference in your success as an Agent? I don’t think it is rates or programs.

Now a Global Pandemic has hit . The government is heavily affecting the mortgage industry. The lending world is going to be changing, again. What that is going to look like is up for much debate, but it will change, as it did after 2008. It is my opinion, there will be companies that don’t survive this. Overlays are back (ask someone who was here in 2008 if you are unfamiliar). Things have changed and the cheese got moved. Everyone is in pain. Is someone knocking on your door talking about how their overlay isn’t as bad as the competitions? Selling pain? Pushing pain? The good news is you can approach it differently .

Instead of being pushed by pain, be pulled by vision . This is a time to dive deep into your business. Time to analyze who you align yourself with. You need someone who shares your vision, cares about your successes and challenges and helps you work through them. Find someone who knows what your goals are and helps you find ways to reach them. Do you trust them with your paycheck? When you give a referral, you are handing over your paycheck and your reputation. No amount of marketing will beat closing on time with clear communication. Rates will change, programs will come and go, and some lenders may not be in business in 6 months. Find out what is important to you, and find someone with that common vision.

If you want to be an exceptional Agent, that receives referrals from past clients, and others in your sphere, then strive to be pulled by vision instead of pushed by pain. Your clients deserve it.

Scholarships

Available

Now

The Mid-Valley Association of REALTORS® is proud to offer scholarships to prospective students who live in the jurisdiction we serve including surrounding areas, and who are dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the achievement of dreams, but may not have the means to make it possible.

Two $500 scholarships are awarded annually to prospective students demonstrating intent to pursue either an academic or vocational career at an accredited college, university or vocational institution. Applicants must be currently living in the jurisdiction we serve as described in our Bylaws. They must be graduating from an accredited high school (including online high schools), home schooled, or are completing their GED or equivalent. Must receive scholarship application by May 15th. Students may apply on our website here .

A message from Tom Lasonde, WVMLS

It’s good news/bad news in the WVMLS real estate market at the moment.

Overall, the number of sales are down. Price reductions are more common than normal. But new listings continue to stream in, and prices, while dropping slightly last week, are still holding onto gains over this time last year (WVMLS Weekly Trends image).

What do brokers do when times get challenging? They get GOING!

Here are four ideas to try:

1) Complete Those “Roundtuit Projects”

Been meaning to get your contacts database up-to-date? Been planning to take an online course on taking better digital photos? Record your intro video for your YouTube channel? Or learn to knit? Get around to it now!

2) Marketing & Presentations

Now’s a great time to work on your marketing plan. Do you have a GREAT listing presentation? Are your CMA’s as good as they could be? Are your marketing materials up-to-date with your best photo and your latest stats? Speaking of marketing, how’s your website looking these days? Are you hitting your targets with social media?

3) Educational Give & Take

So many companies are offering online ed right now (including us!) Brush up on your skills!

Even better…LEND YOUR SKILLS to a webinar. Teach a first time homebuyers class via Zoom, or do a Facebook live class teaching future sellers how to get their house in tip-top shape while they’re sheltering in place. Use the many statistical charts offered through WVMLS (and others) to help educate people on current market conditions… the world needs your talents !

4) Make Connections

When was the last time you gave your sphere some love? How long has it been since you checked in with previous clients? This might just be the perfect time! Join (or start) an online club, call your mom, and write a letter to an old friend. Use downtime to raise others (and yourself) up!

Join the Key Contact Program

Ensuring every State Legislator has a trusted, go-to REALTOR® advocate to discuss housing policy and Real Estate issues with.

OAR is looking for 90 engaged REALTORS® interested in serving as their State Representative or Senator's key contact.

Questions contact Kyle at [email protected]

Apply to be a Key Contact here.

A message to our RMLS™ members from John Ayers, Vice President RMLS™

If you are a member of the RMLS™ we would like you to be aware of the 2020 NAR Model Rule changes were reviewed and approved by the RMLS™ Board of Directors and will become effective on April 30, 2020. The changes incorporate the NAR-mandated Clear Cooperation MLS Policy 8.0 that governs the public marketing of listings and their entry into the multiple listing service.

To facilitate this transition, a FAQ is available on our RMLScentral blog, including these common questions:

Is the new policy consistent with Article 3 of the NAR Code of Ethics?

Yes. By joining the MLS, Participants agree to be bound by the MLS Rules and Regulations. Per the policy’s rationale, the public marketing of a listing indicates that the MLS participant has concluded that cooperation with other MLS participants is in their client’s best interests.

RMLS™ is happy to guide you through a specific situation or answer questions you may have.

Education Opportunities

Professional Development Committee

We had a great turnout to our first committee Zoom meeting in April and have some great speakers lined up for the upcoming general membership meetings.

For our first virtual General Membership meeting on May 13 ^th , you can look forward to hearing from the Salem City Emergency Manager, Gregory Walsh . Greg was planned to speak later in the year on Emergency Preparedness, but in light of the current circumstances we thought it was more relevant to have him present sooner than later.

Greg administers the city’s emergency management and preparedness programs as well as the CERT program. Greg is also a Certified Emergency Manager through the International Association of Emergency Managers, as well as a Graduate of the FEMA National Emergency Management Advance Academy. Since Greg works so closely with our local government and police department we look to forward to hearing what input he has to share!

Although our in person classes have been canceled for the time being , we will work diligently to get these speakers rescheduled in the coming months as they are available. I hope everyone is staying well and taking advantage of the free Continuing Education offered by OAR which has been extended to May 30 ^th . If you missed the live OAR webinar last Monday, “Boom or Bust? Economists Discuss Oregon Real Estate after Quarantine” , it is still available for free CE as well!

Click here to go directly to the list of free courses.

Well Wishes,

Sabrina Jones, Chair

Scheduled May Classes

General Membership Meeting - Virtual Meeting (1 Hour CE)

Emergency Preparedness

Presented by Gregory Walsh, Salem City Emergency Manager

Wednesday, May 13, 2020 8:30am - 10:00am

Registration required - Click Here

L ARRC (3 Hour CE)

Wednesday, May 27, 2020 9:00am - 12:00pm

Previously scheduled at Mt Angel Festhalle . WE are planning to provide this class in a virtual environment. Registration details to follow.

Upcoming June Scheduled Classes

We will update educational class information as it becomes available. For a complete list of updated classes, please call our office or visit us at our website by clicking here .

LARRC (3 CE)

Thursday, June 4, 2020 9:00am-12:00pm

Scottish Rite - TBD

Registration details to follow

General Membership Meeting: Lending Panelist

Wednesday, June 10, 2020 8:30am-10:00am

Registration details to follow

Risk Advisory: Sipple Well Drilling

Wednesday, June 24, 2020 9:00am-10:30am

Mt. Angel Festhalle - TBD

Registration details to follow

GRI Negotiations: (6 Hours CE)

Monday, June 29, 2020 9:00am-4:00pm

OAR Training Room

Note: ABR Designation: Accredited Buyers Representative

Mon, May 18 - Tue, May 19, 2020 - Canceled

Reminder: As a REALTOR® member of OAR online courses for continuing education are currently available free of cost at online education - click here . Let's stay healthy and keep learning together.

SARCF dba : MVAR Community Foundation

We hope that you are all staying safe and healthy during these uncertain times. Thanks to technology, we as a board are still able to conduct our meetings remotely.

In April, our Community Foundation board was able to review and approve a grant request that was submitted by a local non-profit. I am happy to announce that we were able to grant $2,000 to Kindness Closet of Salem. This non-profit prides themselves in encouraging and inspiring change to better our local community by serving over 500 meals per month with a total of 6,000 per year and also provide hygiene bags for those in need.

If you know of any local non-profits who are struggling and need help during this time, please have them contact us for a grant request application!

Stay safe!

Sincerely,

Sarie Scott, President

Government Affairs

In early March, the MVAR Government Affairs Candidate Interview Committee convened to interview candidates for Salem City Council.

The MVAR Board of Directors approved the Committee's recommendations and we are pleased to announce the following candidates who have MVAR's full support. These candidates were chosen because they share MVAR's vision of enhancing Salem's livability by supporting home ownership, smart growth and development, an additional bridge over the Willamette River and thoughtful stewardship of Salem's limited financial resources. Please consider supporting these candidates and voting for them by May 19! - Patrick Sieng, Committee Chair

* Phone Bank Volunteers Needed

for Salem City Council Candidates *

Due to Covid-19, MVAR’s REALTOR® Walking Day was cancelled as door-to-door canvassing is not possible at this time. However, in these final two and a half weeks leading up to the election, MVAR is asking for volunteers to help with a virtual phone bank on behalf of its endorsed candidates. Calls can be made from the safety of your own home with a transcript that is provided, and a sophisticated system is utilized via your computer or phone which blocks your personal number. A brief training of the phone system will take place on Monday, May 4, 10:00-10:30 via Zoom. Please email MVAR Government Affairs Director, Holly Sears , at [email protected] , if you would like to volunteer. We greatly appreciate your support of the candidates in this way!

Survey on “Our Salem” Comprehensive Plan

Please Respond !

The City of Salem is updating its Salem Area Comprehensive Plan, which is the document that guides future growth and development in the Salem area. The City is looking for feedback on different growth scenarios via a survey found here . REALTOR® participation continues to be essential in this process. Thank you for being a positive voice for development, infrastructure, and home affordability and livability in Salem.

For more information about any government affairs related issue, please contact Willamette Valley Government Affairs Director, Holly Sears, at [email protected] or (503) 931-0876.

MVAR Other News

Silverton

Property Tours

At this time we have postponed the Silverton area property tour meeting and tour until further notice. We feel that we have a large number of vulnerable individuals in our area and one of the most responsible things we can do to help slow the spread in our community is to suspend in-person tours.

Questions? Please email: [email protected]

North Santiam Council Update

The City of Stayton just hosted their first Zoom/YouTube meeting on Monday April 27, 2020. To see a copy of the live stream, or for meeting minutes please visit this link .

An article in the Statesman Journal just recently highlighted the Santiam Hospita l in regards to Telehealth , and patient health. Read the article here.

The Santiam Teen Center will be hosting a golf scramble at the Santiam Golf Club August 29, 2020. Click here for event information .

Drew Johnson, North Santiam Council Chair

Lisa McCormick, Chair

Cherry Creek Mortgage Co.

Jazmin Hayworth, Vice Chair

First American Title

Special Events Committee

Greetings from the Special Events Committee!

What an extraordinary time we are in. I need to quote a friend at this point because it makes so much sense. "It isn’t what we’re going through right now but what our attitude is and what we will remember". I think my take-away from the coronavirus will be how important relationships are. Energy breeds energy and that’s what we do for each other.

The goal of the Special Events Committee is to provide just that – relationships!!

Our Annual Member Appreciation Picnic has been moved to July 30, 2020 , so we are not in conflict with a previously scheduled OAR event. Be sure to save the date! Our hope is this will be our coming out party and we can all actually make it!

Stay safe, be healthy, and let’s keep on keepin on! We got this!

Lisa McCormick, Chair

NAR Flash Survey: Economic Pulse

On April 26-27, NAR conducted a flash survey of members on the impact of the coronavirus on their market. The survey was delivered to a random sample of 95,688 members. Thirty percent of members were able to complete nearly all aspects of transactions while respecting social distance. With minor modifications such as using masks and gloves, 41% felt person-to-person interactions were still required.

Click here for the full report

What's our vision for the future?

Participate in the new Survey below.

Dear REALTOR® and Affiliate Members ,

Many of you have participated in the joint Our Salem Workshops, giving valuable input regarding the City of Salem Area Comprehensive Plan- input which will help guide development in the Salem area.

Since we are unable to host these in person workshops until the foreseeable future, we are asking that you take a minute to participate in the online survey put together by the City of Salem.

The survey questions reflect ideas the community has provided through previous workshops, surveys, meetings, events, and discussions that began last year.

Please contribute your input for the future of our city in the survey!

Survey (English)

Encuesta (Español)

‌

The Our Salem project started in 2018 with a look at existing conditions and how Salem could grow under current policies. That first phase resulted in a report card t hat evaluated whether Salem is headed in the right direction. Check out this story map to see what we did and what we learned.

Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact Eunice Kim

[email protected]

503-540-2308

A Message from the Executive Officer

Greetings REALTOR® and Affiliate Members,

Hoping May finds you safe and staying healthy. Sunshine and warmer seem to brighten our days ahead.

Right before the stay at home orders we celebrated with our members - colleagues and friends. Thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, and others who made the evening such a success. Be sure to check out and enjoy the Photo Gallery we now have on our website by clicking here !

With your REALTOR® membership , you are privileged to all the rights and benefits of all three levels of the organization - MVAR, OAR and NAR . As a REALTOR® member your membership dollars are hard at work for you in many ways including advocacy, education, research and communications. Please take the opportunity to take advantage of the many free continuing education classes being provided. Catch up with the virtual Legislative Meetings and Conference April 27th - May 15th.

There is no doubt that the coronavirus is impacting every aspect of our lives. Please reach out to us with any questions. Our professional staff is working remotely and available during normal business hours 8:00am - 4:00pm Monday through Friday.

Thanks to our business partners for sharing additional information to our real estate industry again this month. We hope you as a member will take the time to read through their special messages and information provided.

Times are changing by the minute . We continue to deliver and share with you daily association information from our State - OAR Updates and National NAR Updates as we receive them in.

REALTORS® please remember to call us to update your records at MVAR with any changes of your email, address or making a transfer to another brokerage firm. You may continue to reach us by telephone or text to 503.984.5317 or email us at [email protected] for assistance. We’re here to help answer questions and will keep you updated with current information by text, email, phone, Facebook and our website as well.

Our Association continues to grow, check out the list below! A warm welcome to our new and returning REALTOR® and Affiliate members.

Stay safe and be healthy,

Jean Wheat-Palm

Welcome REALTOR® and AFFILIATE Members

Graciela Garcia Hernandez

Donna Bloberger

Jasmine Andrich

Jessica Craven

David Gier

Geoffrey Tiffany

Glen Schweizer

Matt Sturzinger

Casey Mills

Morgan Rust

Amanda Sherburn

HomeSmart Realty Group

Keller Williams Capital City

Murray Brown Real Estate

RE/MAX HomeSource

John L. Scott – WSL

EXP Realty, LLC

McCully Realty

Sundance Realty

Legacy Real Estate

John L. Scott SLM

Coho Realty

Welcome Returning REALTOR® Members

April McVay

HomeSmart Realty Group

Welcome New Secondary REALTOR® Members

Mickey Lindsay

Oregon First

‌

Welcome New Affiliates

Angela Jones

Amy Nelson

Jeremy Stephens

247 Property Management

Caliber Home Loans

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Welcome Returning Affiliates

Elizabeth Smith

Melissa Tippey

Steve Parker

Mandi Stephens

Amber Toney

Caliber Home Loans

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REALTOR® Member Resources

FREE CE Extended Through May 30th!

Thanks to our partners at OnlineEd , OAR will continue to offer members access to over 55 archived webinars through May 30, 2020. There are a variety of topics available to help meet your CE requirements, and raise 'your bar' of professionalism. Don’t miss out on this amazing COVID-19 response offer!

Access OnlineEd Portal

NEW! OAR COVID-19 Hotline

OAR has launched the new COVID-19 Resource Hotline!

The hotline is opened to all members who have questions specific to COVID-19 and financial assistance resources.

We have received several calls already and look forward to continuing to be a great resource to OAR members.

We now have a COVID HOTLINE webpage that may also help answer questions with our new FAQ document. Be sure to check it out!

COVID-19 Resource Hotline

Phone# 503-587-8884

Hotline will be open 9:00am-3:00pm M-F

( excluding holidays )

COVID-19 Buyer & Seller Advisory Updates

OAR COVID-19 Buyer and Seller Advisories have been updated to reflect the changing federal, state and local eviction bans. We suggest that sellers and buyers who are dealing with tenant occupied properties contact an attorney to fully understand how the eviction bans may impact their transaction and ability to remove a tenant. Buyers should also know that they may experience changes related to mortgage lending including credit score requirements and income and employment verification. If you sent the earlier COVID-19 Advisories to your buyers and sellers, we recommend that you send them the updated version.

View the full OAR Buyer/Seller Advisory

V iew all OAR COVID-19 Resources

NAR: Right Tools, Right Now

In light of the challenges presented by COVID-19 , and its impact on the real estate industry, NAR is taking steps to support members through these uncertain times . The Right Tools, Right Now initiative, which was activated once before in 2009, makes new and existing NAR products and services available for FREE or at significant discounts – right now – and is available to REALTORS® .

NAR is Funding 2 Months of Telehealth

Members TeleHealth provides access to a network of more than 2,300 board-certified physicians, who can address non-emergency medical issues via smartphone, tablet or computer.

Enrollment in the NAR-funded benefit is limited , so we ask that you check first with your insurance provider, even if it’s Medicare, as you may already have access to telemedicine.

Learn more here.

Discounted Online Courses and Certifications: NAR’S E-PRO® CERTIFICATION COURSE, 50% Off Pricing Strategy Advisor Certification Application Fee

PRICING STRATEGIES: MASTERING THE CMA (PSA) , plus many more here !

Webinars: C2EX Webinars, Upcoming Financial Wellness Webinars, plus many more here!

Digital Transaction and Marketing Tools: REALTOR Team Store® branded facemasks, Social Media for REALTORS®: Digital Marketing-Download, and many more tools here!

Timely Data and Information: read more here!

NAR Coronavirus Hub

Be sure to visit the NAR coronavirus Hub for updates and explanations of legislation. National Association of REALTORS® has great guides for Realtors®.

Featured Guides:

· General Guidance During COVID-19

· Open House Guidance During COVID-19

· Transaction Guidance During COVID-19

· Shelter-in-Place Guidance During COVID-19

VIEW ALL NAR COVID-19 RESOURCES

Insights for Commercial Executives

View a recording of Next Up: Insights for Commercial Executives webinar from April 15, 2020. The webinar covers the latest news on legislation and SBA loan programs, key transactional guidance from NAR’s legal team, and insights from commercial real estate executives on their experiences working through today’s volatility and how they are helping clients navigate changing opportunities in the coming months.

Click here to access recording!

Coronavirus Guidance: Commercial Real Estate

COVID-19 and its long reaching effects continue to change the way we conduct our everyday business, and commercial real estate practitioners continue to adapt to these changes on a daily basis. Below are a few resources to help guide Commercial REALTORS® as they navigate the changing landscape in the industry updated daily.

Right Tools, Right Times

Legislative and Advocacy

Transactional Guidance

Affiliate Resources

Commitment to Excellence

In 2018, the National Association of REALTORS® proudly launched Commitment to Excellence (C2EX), a program that empowers REALTORS® to demonstrate their professionalism and commitment to conducting business at the highest standards. NAR’s C2EX program was selected as a 2019 Learning! 100 award winner from Elearning! Media Group.

This award honors organizations for fostering a culture of professional growth, innovation, and organizational performance. Past recipients include Amazon Web Services, AT&T, the American Heart Association and NASCAR.

Learn more about the program here.

National Association of REALTORS®

What: The National Association of REALTORS® , “ The Voice for Real Estate, ” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.3 million members, including NAR’s institutes, societies, and councils, involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Who: Our membership is composed of residential and commercial REALTORS® , who are brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors, and others engaged in all aspects of the real estate industry. Members belong to one or more of some 1,300 local associations/boards and 54 state and territory associations of REALTORS®. They are pledged to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice .

Why: Working for America's property owners , the National Association provides a facility for professional development, research and exchange of information among its members and to the public and government for the purpose of preserving the free enterprise system and the right to own real property.

The Term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics .

Consumer Outreach for REALTORS®

That's Who We "R" National Campaign

The new ads for 2020 capture who you are as REALTORS®, and the authentic relationships you have with your clients and communities.

Visit www.ThatsWhoWeR.realtor to find downloadable social posts, digital banners, print ads, and links to campaign merchandise. For easy personalization and immediate social sharing in a few taps, download the new Photofy app with preloaded campaign materials at https://photofy.com/nar .

Remember , this campaign is a member benefit , and it becomes much more powerful when you associate yourself with the REALTOR® brand. Wear your REALTOR® pin with pride , and incorporate the REALTOR® logo into your promotional materials. That way, when potential clients are “looking for the R”, they will look to you!